Coin handling machine



1934. A. c. o. BOCK I COIN HANDLING MACHINE Fiied Nov. 28, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fifl/ me ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1934. A. c. o. BocK.COIN HANDLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 28," 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTO 0. 54

,mcflMfs ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1934-. A. c. 0. 800K COIN HANDLING MACHINEFiled Nov. 28, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 20, 1934UNITED STATES com HANDLING MACHINE Alfred Charles Otto Bock, Brooklyn,N. Y., as-

signor-to Sattley Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of MichiganApplication November 28, 1931 Serial No. 577,825

8 Claims.

reharges the coins separately into receptacles, one

for each denomination.

At the present time there are numerous coin sorting and countingmachines on the market but '10 most of these machines are large,complicated,

and expensive so that many small business organizations, churches, andthe like, which have use for such a machine, are unable to afford theinvestment required. In these machines as commonly constructed there isa receptacle for the miscellaneous coins and a pickup plate by which thecoins are removed one by one from the mass of loose coins in thereceptacle. Usually the pickup plate has the form of a rotary disc whichturns about an axis slightly inclined tothe horizontal, and the coinspicked up in pockets or recesses in the disc are discharged therefrominto another rotary element in which the sorting or classifyingoperation takes place. This sortelement frequently has a form known inthe art as a turret and is a short cylinderrotatable upon a verticalaxis and provided with radial slots. The turret and pickup plate'aresynchronized so'that at the proper instant in their rotation the coinsare discharged from the pockets of the pickup plate and each coin dropsinto one of the slots in the turret. The turret slots are of decreasingwidth in a downward direction and, as the coins enter the slots, theycome to rest at (different points in the slots determined by their:size. Thereafter at the proper time the coins are separately dischargedfrom the slots according to their denominations. f

Machines of the construction above described have been developed invarious forms and in general operate satisfactorily, althoughdifficulties have been encountered due to jamming of the coins as theyenter the turret. However, these machines are complicated and their costis high, because so many of the parts require costly machiningoperations.

The present invention is accordingly directed to the provision of anovel coin sorting and count- M ing machine which is of simpleconstruction and can be made at low cost. By reason of its simplicity,the machine is highly efficient in operation and functions for longperiods without the occurrence of jams which require that the machine bestopped and the jammed coins removed. In the new machine I dispenseentirely with a turret or other separateclassifying element and insteadI employ a pickup plate which is pro vided on one face with recesses bywhich individual coins can be picked up from a loose mass, and on theother with classifying slots. These slots are formed in the fiat backface of the plate and extend in a generally inward direction, the slotshaving a decreasing width toward their inner ends. Each slot is incommunication at its outer end through the plate with one of the pickuprecesses and in the rotation of the plate, a coin is picked up in eachrecess and then, at one point in the travel of the coin,it is passedthrough the plate to its rear face and enters one of the slots.

As the rotation of the plate continues, the coin in the slot moves downthrough the latter to a position determined by the size of the coin. Thecoins are thus classified, with the coins of separate denominationoccupying positions on the rear face of the plate at varying distancesfrom the run thereof. After the coins have thus been classified, theyare counted by suitable means and discharged into separatedenominational receptacles provided for the purpose.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawin S, in which Fig. 1 is a face view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; V

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary face view with parts removed, the angle fromwhich the illustration is made being indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views on the lines 44 and 5-5,respectively, of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a. sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 8, showing aportion of the rear face of the classifying plate; 9

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; and.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

The new machine comprises a supporting plate 10 provided with a boss 11in which is mounted a shaft 12 provided with a gear 13 meshing with aworm 14 on a shaft 15 provided with a pulley 16. The pulley 16 is drivenby means of a motor 17 and belt 18, the motor being mounted on crossbars 19 extending between two upright frame members 20, which alsosupport the plate 10 at their upper ends. The plate 10 lies with itsface slightly inclined to the vertical and the shaft 12 extends throughthe plate at a slight angle to the horizontal.

A ring 21 is attached to the periphery of the plate 10 and a hopperplate 22 is secured to the ring near its lower edge. Mounted on the endof the shaft 12 and in contact with the face of the plate 10 is a'pickupandclassifying element 23. This element may be formed as a single platebut is more conveniently made up of a pickup disc 24 on the outer faceof the element and a classifying plate on the under side, the disc andplate being secured together face to face. The element 23 may be mountedon the end of the shaft 12 in any convenient manner or the shaft mayconstitute an integral part of the element, as illustrated. Between theend of the boss 11 and the element 23 is a ball bearing 26 so that theelement may be freely rotated by the motor.

The pickup disc or plate cooperates with the hopper plate 22 to form areceptacle for a loose mass of miscellaneous coins to be sorted andcounted and the disc is provided with pickup recesses 27 preferably madeby cutting away the edge of the disc as illustrated in Fig. 3. With thedisc thus constructed, the movement of the disc relative to the mass ofcoins in the receptacle causes coins to be picked up in the recesses andcarried out of the mass. The pickup plate is relatively thin and thecoins in the recesses are supported therein by a ring 28 mounted betweenthe ring 21 and the rim of the supporting plate 10, the ring 28extending inwardly a sufficient distance so as to underlie the recesses.To prevent more than one coin from occupying any recess, a leaf spring29 is mounted on the inner edge of the plate 21 at a point where theedge of the pickup plate is moving upwardly past the spring. The springbears against the edges of the coins in the recesses and operates toforce out the top coin if there are two in a recess.

The classifying plate 23 mounted on the underside of the pickup plate isformed with a plurality of classifying slots 30 shown more clearly inFigs. 6 and 7. These slots extend in a generally inward direction andthey have a decreasing width inward. Their width decreases by steps soas to form shoulders 31 along one side thereof and the configuration ofthese slots is such that coins occupy difierent positions in the slotsdepending on the size of the coins, each denomination of coin occupyinga definite position in the slot.

At its outer end, each slot would be in communication with one of thepickup recesses 27 but for the interposition of the supporting plate 28.That plate, however, is cut away at a place designated 32 where thepickup recesses are moving downwardly toward the mass of coins in thehopper. Adjacent this point, a cover 33 extends inwardly from the ring21, overlying the outer edge of the pickup plate and preventing coinsfrom the mass from entering pickup recesses at the point where the plate28 is cut away.

The rear surface of the classifying plate 25 is formed with a pluralityof concentric channels 34, each of which crosses all of the slots 30 andthese channels are arranged so that each one enters one of the divisionsof the slots. Mounted in the supporting pla e 10 near the topthereof arepivoted arms 35, each of which carries at one end a roller 36 whichenters one of the con centric channels. The other end of each arm bearsagainst a plunger 3'7 provided with a rack 38 actuating a gear 39 on theshaft of a counting device 40. The several counting devices are allmounted in one housing 41 attached to the plate 10 at a convenient pointand are provided with a resetting handle 42.

The supporting plate 10 is formed with a plurality of chutes 43, whichlead downwardly and discharge separately into boxes 44, one for eachdenomination of coin, the chutes being of different sizes according tothe denomination of the coins which are to pass through them. At the topof the group of chutes is a plate 45, the edge of which in part definesopenings through plate 10, through which coins may be discharged fromthe classifying slots in the plate 24. The coins passing through theseopenings enter the chutes and fall downwardly into the separate coinboxes. The plate 45 is provided with prongs 46, one for each opening,and each prong enters one of the concentric channels 34 in theclassifying plate. The opening to each chute is in registry with one ofthese channels and, therefore, with one subdivision of each slot.

In the operation of the machine, the loose coins to be sorted andcounted are introduced into the receptacle formed by the hopper plate 22and by the face of the combined pickup and classifying element 23. Asthe element rotates, individual coins enter the pickup recesses in theelement and are carried upwardly from the mass and then downwardly andbeneath the cover 33. In their movement to the cover the coins aresupported in the recesses on the ring 28 but, beneath the cover, thering is cut away so that each coin falls through the recess and into aclassifying slot in contact with the surface of a portion of thesupporting plate 10. Upon continued rotation of the element 23, thecoins travel upwardly as shown in Fig. 3 until a point is reached whereeach coin slides down in its slot by gravity to assume a position ofrest determined by its size. The slots are not radially disposed but areat an angle to radii so that the coins move down the slots sooner thanwould be the case if the slots were radial.

As the separate coins, one in each slot, are carried along, they passbeneath the rollers on the levers 35 and when a coin lifts the rollerend of the lever, the lever operates its counting mechanism. Just beyondthe counting device, the coins are picked out of the slots by the prongs48 and pass through openings into the chutes 43. These chutes lead tothe separate coin boxes, one for each denomination of coins beinghandled.

While the construction has been described as including a picking up andclassifying element 23 made up of two parts, the pickup disc 24 and theclassifying plate 25, it will be evident that those parts could be madeintegral without departing from the principles of the invention. It ismore convenient to make the parts separate and secure them together faceto face, in which position they function as a single element.

It will be observed that in the new machine, the coins are picked up andclassified by the same moving element and the coins are in contact withthis element at all times from the time that they are picked up untilthey are discharged into their separate chutes. The coins lie flat atall times and in their classifying movement along the slots they aresupported on their faces instead of on their edges. By using a singleelement for the combined purpose of picking up and classifying thecoins, the construction of the machine is greatly simplified and byreason of the small extent of movement of the coins relative to thepickup and classifying element from the time the coins are picked. upuntil they are discharged, there is little opportunity for the coinsbecoming jammed.

In prior machines of the turret type, coins are picked up and thentransferred into the turret, with the coins not in contact withsupporting surfaces at all times during their movement. lhe coins arethus not fully guided and jamming frequently occurs. In my machine, eachcoin is supported on its face from the time the coin is removed from thehopper until the instant of discharge and the complete guidance andsupport afiforded the coins reduce the possibility of their becomingwedged or leaving the paths of travel which they are intended to take.

My machine is so constructed that only one coin can be picked up in eachrecess and that coin travels through an arc of approximately 540 in themachine. Throughout the first half of this movement, the coin is in apickup recess and just before this coin would again enter the mass inthe receptacle, it is passed to the rear face of the pickup andclassifying element and enters one of the classifying slots. The coinremains at rest in this slot through a movement of approximately 130 andthen on further movement, the coin begins to move inwardly along theslot to assume a position of rest determined by its size. 'The coinslides along a flat surface in contact with a smooth edge of the slotand eventually contacts with a shoulder on the other edge, this shouldersupporting the coin in its proper position determined by itsdenomination. While the coin is advancing along its path with the plateafter such classification, it is counted and then discharged into thechute which delivers it into its appropriate box.

The machine is of simple, relatively inexpensive construction and doesnot include the large number of highly machined parts customarilypresent in such devices. It functions efliciently and rapidly and may beused for'long periods of time without becoming jammed or requiring anyattention.

What I claim is:

1. In a coin sorting machine, a plate mounted for rotation and havingcoin pick-up recesses in one face, classifying slots in the other face,each slot communicating near one end with a recess and decreasing inwidth in successive steps toward the center of said plate, andconcentric slots intersecting said classifying slots, each of theconcentric slots registering with one of the steps in each classifyingslot.

2. In a machine for handling coins, the combination of a receptacle fora mass of unsorted coins, a plate mounted for rotation and having oneface forming a wall of the receptacle, said face being formed withpick-up recesses, each adapted to receive one coin at a time with saidcoin lying with its faces parallel to the face of said plate,classifying slots in the other face of said plate, each slotcommunicating at its outer end with a recess and extending inwardly fromthe periphery of said plate, each slot having a flat bottom lyingparallel to the plane of said plate and being adapted to receive a coinfrom said communicating recess, said slot being of gradually decreasingwidth inwardly from said periphery, means engaging one face of each coinin a slot and supporting said coin therein while permitting it to moveinwardly along said slot, concentric slots in said plate intersectingsaid '3 classifying slots, and means entering said concentric slots andactuated by said coins for counting them. i

3. In a machine for handling coins, the combination of a receptacle fora mass of unsorted coins, a plate mounted for rotation and having oneface forming a wall of the receptacle, said face being formed withpick-up recesses, each adapted to receive one coin at a time with saidcoin lying with its faces parallel to the face of said plate,classifying slots in the other face of said plate, each slotcommunicating at its outer end with a recess and extending inwardly witha gradually decreasing width from the periphcry of said plate, each slothaving a flat bottom lying parallel to the plane of the plate and beingadapted to receive a coin from said communicating recess, means engagingone face of each coin in a slot and supporting said coin therein whilepermitting it to move inwardly along said slot, concentric slots formedin the face of the plate in which said classifying slots are formed,said concentric slots intersecting said classifying slots, and meansentering said concentric slots for removing the classified coins fromsaid classifying slots.

4. In a machine for handling coins, the combination of a receptacle fora mass of unsorted coins, a plate mounted for rotation and having oneface forming a wall of the receptacle and in contact with said coins,said face being formed .with pick-up recesses, each adapted to receiveone coin at a time with said coin lying with its faces parallel to theface of said plate, classifying slots in the other face of said plateextending inward from the periphery thereof, each slot communicating atits outer end with a recess and being of gradually decreasing widthinward from said periphery, each slot having a flat bottom parallel tothe plane of said plate and being adapted to receive a coin from saidcommunicating recess, a stationary plate having a face engaging one faceof each coin in a slot and supporting said coin while permitting it tomove inwardly along said slot as said first plate rotates, concentricslots in said other face of the rotating plate intersecting saidclassifying slots, and means entering said concentric slots and actuatedby the coins in said classifying slots for counting them.

5 In a machine for handling coins, the combination of a receptacle for amass of unsorted coins, a plate mounted for rotation and having onerfaceforming a wall of said receptacle and in contact with said coins, saidplate being formed with pick-up recesses extending through it and openat said face, each pick-up recess being adapted to receive one coin at atime, a plate underlying said recesses and supporting the coins thereinwith their faces parallel to the face of said plate, classifying slotsin the other face of said plate extending inwardly from the peripherythereof, each slot intersecting one of said recesses at its outer endand being of gradually decreasing width inwardly from said periphery,each slot having a fiat bottom parallel to the plane of said plate andbeing adapted to receive a coin from said recess which it intersects, aplate beneath said slots having a face engaging one face of each coin ina slot and supporting said coin while permitting it to move inwardlyalong said slot, concentric slots in said other face of the rotatingplate intersecting said classifying slots, and means entering saidconcentric slots and actuated by said coins in said classifying slotsfor counting them.

are

6. In a machine for handling coins, the combination of a receptacle fora mass of unsortedcoins, a plate mounted for rotation and having oneface forming a wall of said receptacle and in contact with said coins,said plate being formed with pick-up recesses extending through it andopen at said face, each pick-up recess being adapted to receive one coinat a time, a plate underlying said recesses and supporting the coinstherein with their faces parallel to the face of said plate, classifyingslots in the other face of said plate extending inwardly from theperiphery thereof, each slot intersecting one of said recesses at itsouter end and being of gradually decreasing width inwardly from saidperiphery, each slot having a fiat bottom parallel to the plane of saidplate and being adapted to receive a coin from said recess whichintersects, a plate beneath said slots having a face engaging one faceof each coin in a slot and supporting said coin while permitting it tomove inwardly along said slot, concentric slots in said other face ofthe rotating plate intersecting said classifying slots, and meansentering said concentric slots for removing the classified coins fromsaid classifying slots.

7. In a machine for handling coins, the combination of a receptacle forunsorted coins, a plate mounted for rotation and having one face forminga wall of the receptacle and in contact with said coins, said platehaving pick-up recesses extending through it, each recess being adaptedto receive one coin at a time, a stationary plate the-coins in saidrecesses, said coins lying in said recesses with their faces parallel tothe plane of said rotating plate, and said stationary plate having anopening through which said coins may move out of said recesses,classifying slots formed in the other face of said rotating plate andextending inwardly from the periphery thereof with a graduallydecreasing width, each slot at its outer end intersecting a recess andhaving a fiat bottom parallel to the plane of said rotating plate, aplate having a face engaging one face of each coin in a slot andsupporting said coin while permitting it to move inwardly along saidslot in a plane parallel to the face of said rotating plate, concentricslots formed in said other face of the rotating plate and intersectingsaid classifying slots, and means entering the concentric slots forremoving the classified coins from said classifying slots anddischarging them separately.

8. In a coin-sorting machine, a plate mounted for rotation and havingcoin pick-up recesses in one face and classifying slots in the otherface, the bottoms of said classifying slots lying parallel to the planeof said plate and said slots extending inwardly from the periphery ofsaid plate with a gradually decreasing width, each classifying slotintersecting a pick-up recess, and

concentric slots formed in said other face of said plate andintersecting said classifying slots.

ALFRED C. 0. BOOK.

